MORE than 20 jobs at the former head office of South Cheshire's top chemists' chain are being axed after it was decided to close the building.

The job cuts, which affect staff at pharmacy group P Williams (Chemists) Ltd, Nantwich, are part of its take-over by Rochdale-based United Co-operatives at the beginning of the month.

Bosses at the Co-op have also decided to close the former P Williams Baby World store in Nantwich from mid-July, which will see a further five jobs lost.

Geoff Simpson, spokesman for United Co-op Healthcare, said: 'We are currently holding discussions with the 21 staff affected and are doing all we can to find alternative employment for them. We expect the office to close in late August.'

Prior to its buy-out, P Williams was one of the few remaining large-scale independent pharmacy operations in the UK. Formed more than 80 years ago when Percy Williams opened a small chemist at the Three Lamps pub in Victoria Street, Crewe, it grew to have a turnover of more than £50m.

The purchase is the largest acquisition ever made by the United Co-operatives Society, and makes it the UK's fifth largest pharmacy chain.

Mr Simpson added: 'We are also talking to the five staff affected at the P Williams Baby World store in Nantwich and trying to redeploy them.

'Whenever a situation like this arises we do our very best to assist the affected staff.'